2007 SESSION

07-1157

06/09

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 18

ANALYSIS

This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution provides that the duty to cherish public schools shall be satisfied by the general court funding not less than fifty percent of the cost of an adequate education and distributing said funds to promote equal opportunity for every child. This constitutional amendment concurrent resolution also requires the general court to define an adequate education.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

07-1157

06/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Be it Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, that the

Constitution of New Hampshire be amended as follows:

I. That the second part of the constitution be amended by inserting after article 83 the following new article:

[Art.] 83-a [Funding of Public Education.] In fulfillment of the duty to cherish public schools set forth in the preceding Article, the general court shall define an adequate education, regularly determine the total statewide cost thereof, fund, with state monies, not less than fifty percent of the total statewide cost of an adequate education each year, and maintain standards of accountability. The general court shall have the authority to distribute the funds in the manner that it determines to best promote an equal opportunity for an adequate education for every child in the public schools, provided that the general court shall distribute some state aid to every school district.

II. That the above amendment proposed to the constitution be submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the state general election to be held in November, 2008.

III. That the selectmen of all towns, cities, wards and places in the state are directed to insert in their warrants for the said 2008 election an article to the following effect: To decide whether the amendments of the constitution proposed by the 2007 session of the general court shall be approved.

IV. That the wording of the question put to the qualified voters shall be:

“Are you in favor of amending the second part of the constitution by inserting after article 83 a new article to read as follows:

[Art.] 83-a [Funding of Public Education.] In fulfillment of the duty to cherish public schools set forth in the preceding Article, the general court shall define an adequate education, regularly determine the total statewide cost thereof, fund, with state monies, not less than fifty percent of the total statewide cost of an adequate education each year, and maintain standards of accountability. The general court shall have the authority to distribute the funds in the manner that it determines to best promote an equal opportunity for an adequate education for every child in the public schools, provided that the general court shall distribute some state aid to every school district.”

V. That the secretary of state shall print the question to be submitted on a separate ballot or on the same ballot with other constitutional questions. The ballot containing the question shall include 2 squares next to the question allowing the voter to vote “Yes” or “No.” If no cross is made in either of the squares, the ballot shall not be counted on the question. The outside of the ballot shall be the same as the regular official ballot except that the words “Questions Relating to Constitutional Amendments proposed by the 2007 General Court” shall be printed in bold type at the top of the ballot.

VI. That if the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 of those voting on the amendment, it becomes effective when the governor proclaims its adoption.